Day 11: 12 Days of Cookies Countdown

Moving along....moving along!

Here is day 11 of the "12 Days of Cookies" adventure. This is a new recipe for me this holiday season. I really like the Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe-Joe's that only come out during the Christmas holidays. They are basically an oreo, but with the edition of candy cane pepperminty-ness in the cream filling. They are addicting!! The combo of peppermint and chocolate is really a good one. I was craving something similar, and this is what I found:

~Choco-Peppermint Cookie Bars~

(adapted from Serious Eats)

1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 stick (1/2 c.) unsalted butter, softened

1/4 c. packed dark brown sugar

1 lg. egg

1 c. semisweet chocolate chips

1 c. coarsely chopped hard peppermint candies

Preheat the oven to 375 F with the rack in the middle of the oven. Line a 13x9 in. cookie sheet with foil, making sure to cover the edges as well. Butter the foil or spray with cooking spray.

Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and slat in a small bowl. Beat together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg until combined. Slowly mix in the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and peppermint candy. Spread the dough evenly in the pan and bake until slightly puffed about 20 min. Cool completely on the pan, then transfer to a cutting board and cut into bars. 

Note: This recipe did not fill the pan all the way. I just spread it evenly onto about 2/3 of the pan.

These cookie bars were okay, not quite the same as Joe-Joe's, but they did meet the chocolate and peppermint quota for sure! They were a little dry for a cookie. Maybe the addition of some sort of frosting? Make them a little more oreo-esqe? I would give them a try if you have never had the chocolate-peppermint combo before, tis quite wonderful!

ENJOY!!

Announcement & Day 12: 12 Days of Cookies Countdown

Ok, so the announcement is that I am official! I am an OFFICIALLY certified PADI OPEN WATER scuba diver! Yessss! It was wonderful. I had my 4 open water dives this past weekend. Yes, I was scuba certified in December. The air temp this weekend was about 76 F with the water at the surface about 75 F. Awesome!

We dove at a place called Sunabe. It's just outside Camp Foster. Very basic place, great for beginners. But if this is the "basic" dive site, I cannot wait to see the really good places! I heard that there are caves and rocks and cliffs and really awesome reefs and even some islands that you can swim out to. Sa-weet!

Anywho, I am excited to explore and meet some great people scuba diving. Right now I am saving some $$ for the equipment so that I don't have to rent, and I am also waiting for the hub-bub of the holidays to wind down....

....Speaking of the holidays. Did you know there are 12 Days Till Christmas!?! Woah! crazy huh? Well, this year I decided to do a 12 Days of Cookies! I will post a recipe of my favorite holiday cookie every day. Its gunna rock and I am going to be cookied-out big time, but it's totally worth it!

So, here is DAY 1

~Peanut Butter Blossoms~

48 Hershey's Milk Chocolate Kisses*

1/2 c. shortening

3/4 c. creamy peanut butter

1/3 c. sugar

1/3 c. packed brown sugar

1 egg

2 tbsp. milk

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt 

Small bowl of granulated sugar

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Remove wrappers from the chocolates. In a large bowl beat the shortening and peanut butter until blended. Add sugar and brown sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla and beat well. Stir together the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually beat it into the peanut butter mixture until combined. 

Shape the dough into 1 in. balls. Roll in the bowl of granulated sugar and place on an ungreased cookie sheet about 1 in. apart. Bake for 8-10 min. or until lightly browned. Remove from oven. 

Immediately press a kiss into the center of each cookie; the cookie will crack around the edges. Once you have pressed all the kisses in, let them sit for a min. and then come back and gently smoosh the kisses into the cookie once more. This prevents them from falling off while eating. Remove from cookie sheet and cool on a wire wrack. 

*Note: I did not make 48 cookies, I got about 30 or so with this recipe. Hey, you can eat the extras! I also found out that Hershey's Hugs (white chocolate) are really good too! And I suppose that dark chocolate might be good as well....

These cookies are ALWAYS made during the holidays at my family's house. My dad loves them! Great classic that will never get old!

ENJOY!

For those who are interested...

Here is a little list of some things on my "Wish List"

Camera Strap

My Funky Camera

Kitchen Scale

Amazon

$$ for

This:

This:

& This

Scubapro

All this...among other things....

Excuse the break....

...I am currently doing this:

Do you know what that means? I am getting open-water scuba certified! I am freakin' excited! Especially when I am currently living on an island that has some of THE BEST scuba diving in the world! Even better than Hawaii (according to our instructor who used to live there). I am uber excited to explore the many wonderful dive sites and meet some new people!

Now I just gotta convince Hubby....he saw Jaws at much to impressionable age...and him + oceans/lakes just don't agree!

So, for now, its just me! Wish me luck!

Oh yeah, I feel the need to share part of tonight's dinner: English muffins toasted w/ butter and cinnamon-sugar = AWESOME! It satisfied a deep inner craving....  :-)

Toodles!

Sunday Steps!

This was a meal that Hubby and I had last Sunday. He was about to leave for a two week training exercise off island, so we decided to celebrate his "last day" with some homemade pizza!

I quickly whipped up my go-to pizza crust recipe HERE. I like it, it works, but I think I am ready to try some new flavors! Maybe something without the seasonings, and some cornmeal....or whole wheat...The Hubby and I both like NY style pizza, but with crust that is slightly thicker and a little doughy. Expect some experiments in the near future!

Well, once you have a dough all made, and it has risen, knock it down and roll it out. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 F with a pizza stone, or pizza sheet in the oven. While the oven is preheating, make a simple tomato sauce using a small can of tomato sauce and a small can of tomato paste. I also added some onion salt, garlic salt, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. It was wonderful, quick, had a kick, and was just the right amount for one large pizza.

Once the oven is done preheating, remove the pizza stone or sheet, and move the rolled dough onto it. Then:

1. Add sauce and spread all the way to the edges.
3. Add your toppings of choice: we used grilled chicken.
2. Add your cheese of choice: we used mozzarella and some parmesan/romano mix. Add a dash of italian seasoning on top as well.
4. Pop it in the oven and bake for 30-45 min. Check it every now and then to make sure its not burning.

Last step: EAT EAT EAT!! ~~~~

Also, while we are on this pizza note. The Hubby and I went to a local pizza joint one night. It was good, for Japanese-style pizza. We liked the crust and there was a good variety of toppings options. There were some pre-made pizzas like pepperoni, 4-cheese, meat lovers....and, get this....they had a curry pizza. Yes, curry pizza. It had a curry seasoned sauce with bacon, corn, and cheese. I didn't try any, but Hubby did and he just said it was "interesting". Alright-y then! lol. Size wise, 1 pizza was enough for 1 hungry person, and it can easily be split and paired with a salad for a wonderful meal.

We had two pizzas. One was pepperoni, peppers, onions and mozzarella. The other was garlic, mushrooms, mozz, prosciutto, and parmesan on top. That one was by far my favorite! I would totally get it again! Oh yeah, Hubby also got his fave: some Orion beer....oh boy! *giggles*

ENJOY!!

So, the other day...

...I walked into a bookstore. Not just any bookstore, but a Japanese books store. It was sensory overload, very welcome, fun, smile-inducing, and inside-my-head excited comment making sensory overload. It was wonderful. I got this feeling of inspiration...here, right in front of me, is whole new untapped world.

I. Will. Explore.

Some things that I saw that made me smile:
A Japanese version of Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar
A Japanese version of Jeff Kinney's A Diary of a Wimpy Kid


And various other children's books and stories.

Another area that I was drawn to was the "Cooking" section. There were books, magazines, and pamphlets  galore. The only problem: I couldn't read a single one. Oh well, thats was language courses are for! But, I was intrigued by the photography and design of these magazines.  With most books being read backwards, from back to front, or from right to left, what I perceive to the "back" of a book is actually the "front". This is not the case with all magazines and books, but it is the norm for a vast majority.

Some magazines that had websites were:
Haru.mi - Cooking and lifestyle magazine
Hanako WEST - Cooking, blog, lifestyle
Kunel - Cooking and design  (<---The little "mascot" is really cute!)

There are more out there, I just have to figure out contact info and translations! lol!

But anywho, I killed some time perusing around these websites and compiled some images.

Cooking magazines - I really like the blue one in the top left. The drawn plate and silverware and then actual food sitting on top, then ya take a pic of it! (I may expand on this artistic idea!!)

Some local magazines - geared more towards men!

 A series of cookbooks

Another series of Cookbooks - I really like the simple drawn-out design of these. 

I cannot wait to try some local recipes and ingredients! I have said that again and again! But, alas, Hubby is gone for a few weeks, and I have no one to cook for...soon!

Note to self: I found a recipe for potato salad that had what I think was cabbage and avocado it it! Must try!!

ENJOY!

Chicken Stir-Fry and....

Something else special...

But you'll have to read on for that one!

I made my first stir-fry in Japan last week! It was yummy. The chicken was moist and a little crunchy. This was the first time that I had experimented with cornstarch as a breading. I think that I am going to work with it more because I really liked the potential that it has to produce a crunchy yet moist product!

The sauce was a combo of sweet and savory pairing honey and soy sauce. Two of my favorites! And, to be healthy, there were veggies! I would like to add more next time, this is just what I had on hand...

Here is the recipe that I used:

~Crunchy Honey Chicken~

(Adapted from How Sweet Eats)

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small cubes

2 egg whites

1/2 c. cornstarch (or flour)

1 c. broccoli florets

1/2 red pepper, thinly sliced

1 med. red onion, chopped

1-2 tsp. minced garlic

8 tbsp. olive oil

1/4 c. honey

Salt & Pepper

In two separate bowls, add the egg whites, lightly beaten, and the cornstarch or flour. Heat a large skilled over med-high heat and add 1-2 tbsp. olive oil. Add veggies and a pinch of salt and pepper and saute for 5 min, or until softened. Add in soy sauce and garlic and stir so veggies are coated, about 1-2 min. Remove from skillet and set aside.

With the chicken cut into cubes, season with salt and pepper. Heat the same skillet over med-hight heat and add 3 tbsp. olive oil (or enough to evenly cover the bottom of the pan.)  Dip the chicken pieces first in the egg whites, then into the cornstarch making sure to cover all of the chicken. Shake off excess. Add to the skillet and let brown for 2-3 min. per side. I did mine in two batches, resting the chicken on paper towels. Once all the chicken is done add it too the pan, then add the veggies back into the pan. Add honey and thoroughly mix to combine and heat the honey. Taste sauce and season with salt and pepper. Serve stir-fry with white or brown rice. 

Next time I am going to add more veggies, maybe some sugar snap peas, water chestnuts, more peppers...who knows!

Hubby said that the chicken was yummy and moist! He liked the breading concept, but wished it was a little bit more flavorful on its own, if it were eaten without the sauce.

I'm learning here!

Now....on to the "something special!"

~Gooey Cocoa Brownies~

(Recipe From Honey & Jam - Who got it from someone else...)

10 tbsp. unsalted butter

1 1/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 lg. eggs, cold

1/2 c. AP flour

2/3 c. walnut or pecan pieces (optional)

Make sure your oven rack is in the middle or bottom third, then preheat oven to 325 F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8x8 in. baking pan with parchment paper or foil leaving an overhang on opposing sides. 

Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a med. microwave safe bowl and micro for 1 min. 30 sec. Remove and stir until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Set aside to cool. It will be gritty at this point, but it will smooth out!

When the butter and cocoa mixture is warm, not hot, stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs in one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one. When the batter looks thick, shiny and well blended, add the flour and stir until you cannot see it any longer, then beat even more! About 40 strokes or so to combine it well. Stir in nuts, if using. Spread the brownie mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 min. or until a toothpick, inserted into the center of the brownies, comes out slightly moist, with a little batter. Let cool completely on a rack before cutting.

Note: I did not use nuts. I DO NOT like nuts in my brownies. I like nuts, don't get me wrong, and I like them in other baked goods, just not in my brownies...  I also baked these brownies for a little while longer, about 5-10 min or so. I used a glass baking dish, and these are really moist and fudgy brownies, I wanted to make sure they were done in the middle.

These were WONDERFUL! They are the perfect consistency that I like my brownies to be. Nice and fudgy but with a slight cake texture to them. Also chocolaty....tehehe. Hubby liked them as well, he'll eat anything I bake, but he likes his brownies a little "lighter", if you will, more like a dense cake.

Well, I now have an excuse to make more brownies! Any suggestions that are not from a box?

I hope you get a chance to try these recipes out! Especially the brownies....  ;-P 

ENJOY!